VANCOUVER
– The BC Council for Families will
offer more programs and support to families across B.C. with the help of
one-time grants totalling $460,000, announced Tom Christensen, Minister of
Children and Family Development.

“We
are committed to supporting programs that make positive differences in the
lives of children, youth and families,” said Christensen. “This funding will
allow BC Council for Families to provide parents with the tools and support to
ensure their children get the best start possible.”

The
BC Council for Families received three separate grants totalling $460,000 to
support the following:

·$100,000 for Home
Visiting Training to maintain best practice standards in home visiting
programs;

·$110,000 for the
revitalization and growth of the Nobody’s Perfect Parenting Program; and,

·$250,000 to help fund
resources and promote the development of a cross-ministry provincial parenting
education and support strategy for the BC Centre for Parenting Education and
Support.

“This
year marks the organization’s 30th anniversary and we are thrilled
to receive these new dollars,” said Carol Matusicky, executive director for the
BC Council for Families.“We will use
to provide more preventive programs and supports, especially those that focus
on strengthening the relationship between parents and their children.”

The
BC Council for Families works to help create healthy families in a healthy
society.This funding will allow the
Council to provide research and resources on family issues and support
professionals to work effectively with families.

The
council’s work on the establishment of the Centre for Parenting Education and
Support began last year with the assistance of a one-time grant of $266,000
from the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

-30-

Media

contact:

Seumas
Gordon

Public Affairs Officer

Ministry of Children
and Family Development

250 356-2939

For more information on government services or to
subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s
website at www.gov.bc.ca.